Reclining chairs



Dec. 12, 1961 A. LORENZ ETAL RECLINING CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 21, 1957 INVENTORS' wm/v Me /z,

ATTORNEKS Dec. 12, 1961 A. LORENZ ETAL 3,012,816

RECLINING CHAIRS Filed March 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 WLORENZ,

mes. Ham/15 ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1961 A. LORENZ ETAL 3,012,816

RECLINING CHAIRS Filed March 21, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTORS BY W/Wzfmsm;

ATTORNEY5 Unite 3,012,816 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,816 RECLHNING(IHAIRS Anton Lorenz and Peter S. Fletcher, both of PA). Box 742, @ceanRidge, Boynton Beach, Fla; said Rater S. Fietcher assignor to said AntonLorenz Filed Mini. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 647,542 16 t'jiaims. (Cl. 297-85)This invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs and similararticles of furniture, and in particular to a sequencing arrangement fora reclining chair of the type capable of movement to a plurality ofpositions.

Reclining chairs, as proposed and manufactured heretofore, generallyhave been built of two types. One of these has the seat and backrestrigidly connected to each other in an angular relation, which is notchanged when the seat unit is tilted backward in a semi-recliningposition, nor even when tilted to a fully reclining position. The othertype of reclining chairs has a separately movable seat and back rest,usually pivotally connected either to each other or to the supportingframe structure for movement relative to each other and to the framestructure. During the reclining movements, the angular relation betweenthe seat and back rest is increased for the proper comfortable restingand relaxation in the full reclining position.

Each of the two kinds of reclining chairs has limitations in use. Forinstance, the first mentioned, in which the seat and back rest arerigidly connected together, offers a comfortable resting position onlyin a semireclining position or somewhat tilted sitting position, but theleg-rest had to be actuated in such way to move out the leg restquickly, and propelling it nearly to a horizontal position, due to therelatively small movement backward of the seat and back rest. In thistilted or semi-reclined position, it is not possible to obtain acomplete relaxation attitude, although such position is comfortableduring some activity, such as reading, television viewing and the like.

Where full relaxation and resting is desired, the full recliningposition attained with a reclining chair of the type including theseparate seat and back rest, otters greater comfort, even thoughactivity by the occupant cannot be continued in such position.

Both positions, namely the tilted sitting and the fully reclining, aredesirable at different times, according to the needs of the occupant andthe desire for some activity or to be completely inactive or relaxed.

One object of this invention is to provide, in a single chair or similararticle of furniture, for the two kinds of reclining movements, one, amovement to a tilting position where some activity can be conducted;and, second, a movement to a full reclining position where the occupantmay be completely relaxed.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction ofreclining chairs and the like, so as to provide for relative movementbetween the seat and back rest, to obtain different positions thereofwith re spect to each other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the movement ofthe leg rest into and out of an elevated position and to a fullyretracted position automatically upon shifting of the seat and back resteither to a tilting or a full reclining position.

These objects may be accomplished, according to certain embodiments ofthe invention wherein the seat and back rest are mounted on a supportingframe structure for relative movement with respect to each other and areconnected together through a sequencing arrangement which is rigid inthe upright and tilted sitting positions of the parts, but hasarticulated connections whereby the back rest can swing to a fullreclining position relative to the seat, and the latter is adjusted toaccommodate thereto. The leg rest is connected by a linkage with thesequencing arrangement in such manner as to be extended and retractedautomatically by the shifting ofthe seat and back rest.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention, there is provided a reclining chairwhich comprises a support, a seat, a back-rest, and means mounting theseat and back-rest on the support for movement to a plurality ofpositions in a predetermined sequence. The mounting means includes seatguiding means operatively connected to the seat and support, andback-rest controlling and guiding means independentof the seat guidingmeans which operatively connect the back rest to the seat and support.The back-rest controlling and guiding means includes means whichpivotally connect the seat to the back-rest at a back-rest pivot. Acontrol link is pivotally connected to one of the seat and back-rest ata first point spaced from the back-rest pivot, and means connect thecontrol link to the other of the seat and back-rest at a point spacedfrom the back-rest pivot. The portion of the seat between the back-restpivot and the first point provides a first link rigid with the seat, andthe portion of the back-rest between the back-rest pivot and the secondpoint provides a second link rigid with the back-rest. The three linksand the connecting means coact to hold temporarily the seat andback-rest in rigid relation, and means are operable at the end of themovement of the seat and the back-rest in the temporary rigidrelationship for moving the three links and the connecting meansrelative to each other to recline the back-rest relative to the seat toa fully reclined position.

Certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a reclining chair or the likein which the back rest is upright in sitting position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view, showing the parts in tilting position and withthe leg rest extended;

FIG. 3 is a similar view, with the parts in full reclining position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a modification of thelinkage;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of the modified form;

FIG; 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the modified form;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a further modificationthereof;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of said further modification; and

FiG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of said further modification.

Referring to the form of chair shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the parts areillustrated, respectively, in the up- 3 right sitting position, thetilted sitting position and the fully reclining position, the latter twopositions representing end positions of the first and second movementphases of the seat and back rest.

The chair may comprise any suitable or desired supporting structure, asgenerally indicated by the numeral 1, preferably having opposite sides2, which may be formed as arm rests or the like and which are connectedtogether by suitable connecting bars, indicated at 3, which firmly jointhe opposite sides 2 in a rigid frame. These parts of the structure maybe varied according to the manufacturing requirements and the ornamentaldesign to be achieved.

A chair seat is shown at 4. A back rest is indicated at 5. A leg rest isshown at 6. These are the movable parts of the chair and serve tosupport the occupant thereon. The seat 4 has arms 7 projectingtherefrom, that are pivoted at 8 to the back rest 5, forming pivotalconnection therebetween. These arms 7 are rigidly secured to the seat 4.

A lever 9, which may be a bellcrank lever or a straight lever asdesired, is pivotally supported at 10 on the frame structure, as, forexample, by an inward projection of the pivot pin 10 from the adjacentside support 2. The back rest is pivotally supported upon the lever 9 at11. The pivot 11 is spaced from the pivot 8 so as to form one link of atriangle and these pivots 8 and 11 support the back-rest 5 and hold itin its several positions.

A control link 12 extends forwardly from the pivot 11, being joinedthereby to the back rest 5, to a pivot pin 13 connected with the seat 4.The pivot pin 13 extends in an elongated slot 14 in the control link 12to permit relative longitudinal movement of the control link 12 relativeto the seat 4. The control link may be locked in a fixed position withrespect to the seat by an angular or offset end portion 15 of the slot14, as shown in FIG. 1. A spring 16, or other suitable means, preferablyis connected with the control link 12, normally tending to urge thelatter downward into the locked position shown, when the pin 13 is inthe angular end of the slot 14.

When the pivot pin 13 is in the position shown in FIG. 1 relative to thecontrol link 12, the control link and pin cooperate with the pivots 8and 11 to form a rigid triangular unit between the seat and back rest,which permits of no relative movements between the seat and back rest,although they can move together. The joint movement of the seat and backrest may occur around the pivot 11, substantially as illustrated in FIG.2. As the lever 9 swings on the pivot during this movement, a projection17 on the control link 12 will engage the pivot pin 11} and thereby liftthe front end of the control link 12 relative to the seat 4, therebyshifting the pin 13 out of the angular portion of the slot 14. Thisfrees the rigid connection between the control link 12 and the seat andpermits of endwise shifting of the control link 12 relative to the seat,as hereinafter described.

The front end portion of the seat 4 is supported on an independent seatguiding means including a pin 13 at each opposite side of the seat,projecting inwardly from the side portion 2 of the frame structure. Eachpin 18 is shown as extending in a slot 19 within a bracket 20 secured tothe underside of the seat 4 at the adjacent lateral edge thereof. Theslot 19 is somewhat arcuate or curved, to permit of the desiredmovements of the front end portion of the seat relative to the pin 18.

The leg rest 6 is supported by a lazy tong linkage assembly, generallyindicated at 21. One of the links of the assembly 21 is indicated at 22and extends to the pivot pin 18 with which it is fixedly connected tothe support and forms a control for the extension of the assembly.

The lazy tong link assembly 21 is also connected with an actuating link23 extending therefrom to the lower end of the lever 9, being pivotedthereto at 24.

The linkage shown and described should be provided at each opposite sideof the chair and of the seat and back rest thereof, with room forfreedom of action to accommodate the several movements referred to. Theactuating and supporting linkage for the leg rest 6 may be changed, asdesired, so long as coordinating movements of the leg rest areaccomplished with the movements of the seat and back rest, as preferred.

If the user of the chair desires to change the sitting position fromthat shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary merely to apply a sufiicientpressure against the back rest 5, such that the seat 4 and back rest '5will swing bodily backward around the pivot 11 and on the frame supportof the chair by the action of the lever 9. This swinging movement maycontinue to the position shown in FIG. 2, which is designated as atilting position and is accomplished as the first movement of the chair.This swinging movement of the lever 9, acting through the link 23,causes the leg rest 6 to be propelled outwardly substantially as shownin FIG. 2. The leg rest linkage 21 permits of the leg rest 6 being agreater distance away from the seat 4 than generally providedheretofore, and the legs will have a long supporting surface for thecomfortable resting in this position, as desirable, if the occupantwishes to remain in the position shown.

During this first phase of movement into the position shown in FIG. 2,the control link 12 is released from its rigid locking position, asshown in FIG. 1, by the projection 17 on the lower edge of the controllink 12. This projection 17 abuts against the pivot pin 10 when the seatand back rest are moved approximately to the tilting position, raisingthe control link 12 relative to the pin 13 and freeing the latter fromthe angular portion 15 of the slot 14. This releases the back rest 5 forfreedom of movement relative to the seat 4 by additional pressureagainst the back rest, permitting the latter to swing to the positionshown in FIG. 3. During this second phase of movement, the control link12 is moved bodily forward relative to the seat 4 until the pin 13 comesto rest at the rear end of the slot 14. The further movement will alsoserve to tilt the seat 4, substantially as indicated in FIG. 3, and suchcontinued movement of the back rest 5, by reason of the swingingmovement of the lever 9 will serve to elevate the leg rest 6 to acomfortable relation with respect to the seat.

The user of the chair can restore the parts to the position shown inFIG. 2, or that shown in FIG. 1, by pressure of his legs on the leg rest6 and/ or by elevating his upper body relative to the back rest 5. Theseparts will swing first to the position shown in FIG. 2, and, if desired,the forward movement of the seat and back rest can be continued to theposition shown in FIG. 1. As soon as the seat 4 and back rest 5 havemoved forwardly toward the upright sitting position, the control link 12will lose contact of its projection 17 with the pivot pin 10. This willcause the control link 12 to drop down by the action of the spring 16 orother suitable means connected therewith, and thereby prevent relativemovement between the seat and back rest, due to the triangular assemblyreferred to above.

Each of the first and second positions mentioned can be accomplished andmaintained so long as desired, or the parts moved into the next positionin a simple and easy manner. Thus, the seat and back rest can be shiftedinto the tilted position shown in FIG. 2 and there maintained in thatrelation, so long as desired, or moved to the full reclining position,whenever desired. Each of these movements is fully independent and doesnot require any other changes of positions.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the corresponding parts aredesignated by the same numerals as used in FIGS. 1 to 3 and repetitionof the description thereof is not required.

In this embodiment, in place of the control link 12, we have provided anarticulated or knee action comprising a pair of links 112 and 114,pivoted together at 115, norca mally in straight alignment with eachother. The link 112 is pivoted to the back rest 5 at 111, coaxial withthe pivot of the lever 9 to the back rest. The link 114 is pivoted tothe seat 4 at 113.

In the normal upright sitting position, as shown in FIG. 4, the links112 and 114 normally are held in a locked relation, a straight linealignment, by a spring 116 and a stop 116 on the seat 4 in verticalalignment with the pivot 115. In this rigid alignment, the articulatedor knee action links 112 and 114 coact with the pivots 111 and 113 toform the triangular unit which holds the back rest in rigid relation tothe seat. This triangular unit includes the pivots 111, 8 and 113,maintaining the seat and back rest against relative movement, so long asthe articulated or knee action links remain in the aligned relationshown in FIG. 4.

In this form of the invention, the leg rest 6 is carried by a linkageassembly 121, which has a pivoted connection 1% with the seat 4 and alsoincludes a link 122 pivot-ed to the adjacent support 2 at 118. The linkme nay be pivoted to the support 2 at the same pivot 118. The link 119is pivoted at 118 to a bracket on the seat 4. An actuating link 123extends from the linkage assembly 121 to the free lower end of the lever9.

Jr/hen the seat and back rest are moved rearwardly, as shown in FIG. 5,guided by the lever 9 and the link 11?, this will be the first phase ofmovement to the tilted sitting position, as described. During this firstphase of movement, a projection 117 on the link 112 abuts against a pin128, which is secured to the frame structure 1, preferably by projectinginward from the adjacent side 2 thereof. This first position, which isthe tilted sitting position of the chair, can be maintained so long asdesired. if the user wishes to return to the upright sitting positionshown in FIG. 4, this may be accomplished by a pressure of the legsagainst the leg rest 6.

If the occupant of the chair wishes to assume a more comfortableposition of full reclining, as shown in FIG. 6, further backwardpressure on the back rest 5 will cause the link 112 to swing around itspivot 111, thereby buckling the pivotal connection 115 downward. As soonas the articulated linkage 1121'14 has moved past dead center into anunlocked relation, the back rest 5 can move rearward relative to theseat 4, thus increasing the angularity therebetween for the mostcomfortable use.

Again, the user of the chair can move back, either to the tiltingposition of FIG. 5 or the upright sitting position of FIG. 4, by raisingthe back rest 5 or applying pressure to the leg rest 6 when the partswill be restored and held in the desired relation.

A further modification is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 whichcorrespond, respectively, to the positions shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.Corresponding parts of the chair or the like are designated by the samenumerals, but the differences in construction are principally thelinkage connection between the seat and back rest and between the legrest and the seat.

An articulated linkage 212 including pivotally interconnected links 214,215 is pivotally connected at 211 with the back rest and at 213 with theseat. The pivotal connection 211 is spaced from the pivot 8 between theseat and back rest, as described above, and also from the pivotalconnection 211' between the lever 9 and the back rest 5. The articulatedlinkage 212 is provided with a projection 217 on the lower side thereof,in position to abut against the lever 9 upon movement of the parts totilting and full reclining positions, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Afterthe first movement, this linkage 212 will fold in an upward directionfrom a stop 216' on the seat 4, to allow relative movement of the backrest 5 with respect to the seat 4. A leaf spring is shown at 216 bearingupon the articulated linkage 212 and carried by the back rest 5,normally tending to hold the articulated linkage in a rigid extendedposition, bearing downward upon the pin 216.

The leg rest linkage 221 is substantially the same as shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3, being connected at 218 with the side portion 2 of the framestructure. In addition thereto, the front portion of the seat issupported on the side portion 2 of the frame structure by a link 222pivoted at 218' to the frame structure and at 219 to the seat.

The operation of this form of the invention will be the same asdescribed above, except for the modifications described and shown, andrepetition is unnecessary.

It will be apparent that the lever 9 of the back rest linkage, whichacts as a support for the back rest and the rear portion of the seat, ismoved in both the first and second phases of movement described.However, the link 12 or the linkage 112 or 212 forms a rigid connectionbetween the seat and back rest in the first movement described to thetilting position shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, but is shortened by slidingmovement or knee action in the second movement described, to allowrelative movement of the back rest with respect to the seat. Thisconstruction provides for a rigid triangular unit between the seat andback rest to hold these parts in rigid relation to each other in thenormal upright sitting position, and yet makes it possible for shiftingmovement either to a tilting position or to a full reclining position.Such shifting movement is accompanied by an extension of the leg rest,which is accommodated to a comfortable supporting position relative tothe seat in either of the last-mentioned positions of adjustment.

The linkage described and shown in the drawings will be provided at eachopposite side of the seat and back rest. t is supported on the adjacentsides of the chair or other article of furniture, and only one side hasbeen described for simplicity of disclosure.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certainembodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may bemade therein, without departing from the invention, as set forth in theclaims.

We claim:

1. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, and means mounting the seat and backreston the frame structure for movement to a plurality of positions relativethereto, said mounting means including a plurality of connectionsbetween the' seat and back rest with a plurality of pivotal connectionswith at least one of them and at least one pivotal connection with theother normally tending to hold said seat and back rest in rigid relationto each other and for bodily tilting movement in said rigid relation,and means connected with one of said seat and back rest for breakingsaid rigid relation and providing for reclining movement of the backrest relative to the seat.

2. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means mounting the seat and back rest onthe frame structure for movement to a plurality of positions relativethereto, said mounting means including a link connected with the seatand having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a separate linkpivoted to the seat and having a pivotal connection with the back restat a point spaced from the firstmentioned pivotal connection therewith,said links and pivotal connections normally forming a rigid connectionbetween the seat and back rest, and means for shortening one of saidlink connections between the seat and back rest for swinging movement ofthe back rest relative to the seat.

3. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means forming a connection between theseat and back rest and pivoted to the back rest, separate means forminga second connection between the seat and back rest and pivoted to theback rest at a'point spaced from the first-mentioned pivot, saidseparate means being movable relative to the seat and back rest andforming a rigid connection therebetween in one position of the separatemeans and permitting relative movement therebetween in another posi- 1tion of the separate means for swinging movement of the back restrelative to the seat, and means supporting the seat and back rest on theframe structure.

4. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means connecting the seat and back resttogether and having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a linkageconnecting the seat and back rest together and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest spaced from the first-mentioned pivotalconnection therewith, said linkage including a plurality of linksconnected together and movable relative to the back rest and seat andforming a rigid connection therebetween in one position of the linkage,means conneoted with at least one of the links forming a lost-motionconnection in the linkage in another position of the linkage formovement of the back rest to a reclining position relative to the seat,and means supporting the seat and back rest on the frame structure.

5. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means connecting the seat and back resttogether and having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a linkageconnectthe seat and back rest together and having a pivotal connectionwith the back rest spaced from the first-mentioned pivotal connectiontherewith, said linkage including a plurality of links connectedtogether and movable relative to the back rest and seat and forming arigid connection therebetween in one position of the linkage, meansconnected with one of the links forming a lostmotion connection in thelinkage in another position of the linkage for movement of the back restto a reclining position relative to the seat, and said linkage includinga lever pivotally supported on the frame structure and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest for supporting the back rest in thedifferent adjusted positions thereof.

6. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means connecting the seat and back resttogether and having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a linkageconnecting the seat and back rest together and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest spaced from the first-mentioned pivotalconnection therewith, said linkage including a plurality of linksconnected together and movable relative to the back rest and seat andforming a rigid connection therebetween in one position of the linkage,means connected with one of the links forming a lost-motion connectionin the linkage in another position of the linkage for movement of theback rest to a reclining position relative to the seat, and said linkageincluding a lever pivotally supported on the frame structure and havinga pivotal connection with the back rest for supporting the back rest inthe different adjusted positions thereof, and means connected with thelinkage and operatively connected with the lever for causing saidlost-motion of the linkage and thereby providing for movement of theback rest relative to the seat.

7. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means connecting the seat and back resttogether and having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a linkageconnecting the seat and back rest together and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest spaced from the first-mentioned pivotalconnection therewith, said linkage including a plurality of linksconnected together and movable relative to the back rest and seat andforming a rigid connection therebetween in one position of the linkage,means connected with one of the links forming a lost-motion connectionin the linkage in another position of the linkage for movement of theback rest to a reclining position relative to the seat, means supportingthe seat and back rest on the frame structure, a leg rest, and meansoperatively connected with the linkage for projecting the leg restrelative to the seat and holding the leg rest in elevated position.

8. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, a back rest, means connecting the seat and back resttogether and having a pivotal connection with the back rest, a linkageconnecting the seat and back rest together and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest spaced from the first-mentioned pivotalconnection therewith said linkage including a plurality of linksconnected together and movable relative to the back rest and seat andforming a rigid connection therebetween in one position of the linkage,means con nected with one of the links forming a lost-motion connectionin the linkage in another position of the linkage for movement of theback rest to a reclining position relative to the seat, a leverpivotally supported on the frame structure and having a pivotalconnection with the back rest for supporting the back rest in thedifferent adjusted positions thereof, means connected with the linkageand operatively connected with the lever for causing said lost-motion ofthe linkage and thereby providing for movement of the back rest relativeto the seat, a leg rest, linkage means connected with the leg rest forbodily movement thereof to retracted and elevated positions relative tothe frame structure, and means operatively connecting the lever with thelast-mentioned linkage for projecting the leg rest to said elevatedposition upon movement of the back rest to an intermediate adjustedposition thereof.

9. A reclining chair or the like comprising a supporting framestructure, a seat, an upright back rest, a leg rest, leg rest linkagesupporting the leg rest for movement from a retracted position to anextended elevated position, arms connected with the seat and havingpivotal connections with the back rest, linkage pivotally connected withthe back rest at points spaced from the first-mentioned pivotalconnections, said linkage extending to the seat and pivoted thereto andhaving lost-motion connections with the seat, means supporting the seatand back rest on the frame structure including a lever pivotally mountedon the frame structure, means connected with the seat linkage andoperatively connected with the lever for causing said lost-motionconnection between the seat and back rest upon bodily movement of theseat and back rest relative to the lever, and actuating meansoperatively connecting the lever with the leg rest linkage.

10, A reclining chair or the like comprising a support ing framestructure, a seat, a back rest, a link connection between the seat andthe back rest pivotally connected with the back rest, a second linkconnection between the seat and back rest having a pivotal connectionwith the back rest, means mounting the seat and back rest on the framestructure for tilting movement relative thereto, and for recliningmovement of the back rest relative to the seat, and means in the secondlink connection holding the seat and back rest in rigid relation duringone movement, and for swinging movement of the seat and recliningmovement of the back rest relative to each other and relative to theframe structure after said one movement of the seat and back rest.

11. A reclining chair comprising a support, a seat, a back-rest, andmeans mounting said seat and back-rest on the support for movement to aplurality of positions in a predetermined sequence, the mounting meansincluding seat guiding means operatively connected to said seat and saidsupport and back-rest controlling and guiding means independent of saidseat guiding means and operatively connecting said back-rest to saidseat and said support, said back-rest controlling and guiding meansincluding means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at aback-rest pivot, a control link pivotally connected to one of said seatand said back-rest at a first point spaced from said back-rest pivot,means connecting said control link to the other of said seat and saidback-rest at a second point spaced from said back-rest pivot, theportion of said seat between said back-rest pivot and the point on saidseat providing a first link rigid with said seat, the

g portion of said back-rest between said back-rest pivot and the pointon said back-rest providing a second link rigid with, said back-rest,said three links and the connecting means coacting to hold temporarilysaid seat and said back-rest in rigid relation, and means operable atthe end of the movement of said seat and said back-rest in saidtemporary rigid relation for moving said'three links and said connectingmeans relative to each other to recline said back-rest relative to saidseat to a fully reclining position.

12. In a reclining chair including a support, a seat, a backrest, andmeans mounting the seat and back-rest on the support for movement to aplurality of positions in a predetermined sequence including seatguiding means operatively connected to said seat and said support, theimprovement comprising back-rest controlling and guiding meansindependent of said seat guiding means and operatively connecting saidback-res to said seat and said support, said back-rest controlling andguiding means including means pivotally connecting said seat to saidbackrest at a back-rest pivot, a control link pivotally connected to oneof said seat and back-rest at a first point spaced from said back-restpivot, means connecting said control link to the other of said seat and-backrest at a second point spaced from said back-rest pivot, theportion of said seat between said back-rest pivot and the point on saidseat providing a first link rigid with said seat, the portion of saidback-rest between said back-rest pivot and the point on said back-restproviding a second link rigid with said back-rest, said three links andthe connecting means coacting to hold temporarily the seat and back-restin rigid relation, and means operable at the end of the movement of theseat and back-rest in said temporary rigid relation for moving saidthree links and said connecting means relative to each other to reclinethe backrest relative to the seat to a fully reclining position.

13. A reclining chair comprising a support, a seat, a back-rest, andmeans mounting said seat and back-rest on the support for movement to aplurality of positions in a predetermined sequence includingtiltingmovement of said seat and back-rest and reclining movement ofsaid back-rest relative to said seat, the mounting means including seatguiding means operatively connected to said seat and said support andback-rest controlling and guiding means independent of said seat guidingmeans and operatively connecting said back-rest to said seat and saidsupport, said back-rest controlling and guiding means including meanspivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at a back-rest pivot, alink connection between said seat and back-rest and pivot-ally connectedto one of said seat and back-rest at a first point spaced from saidback-rest pivot, connecting means in said link connection operativelyconnected to the other of said seat and back-rest at a second pointspaced from said back-rest pivot for holding said seat and back-rest ina rigid relation during one movement phase and in a movable relation toeach other after said one movement phase for reclining said back-- restrelative to said seat, and means operable at the end of said onemovement phase for reclining said back-rest relative to said seat to afully reclining position.

14. A reclining chair comprising a support, a seat, a back-rest, andmeans mounting said seat and back-rest on the support for movement to aplurality of positions in a predetermined sequence, the mounting meansincluding seat guiding means operatively connected to said seat and saidsupport and back-rest controlling and guiding means independent of saidseat guiding means and operatively connecting said back-rest to saidseat and said support, said back-rest controlling and guiding meansincluding means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at aback-rest pivot, a control link pivotally connected to one of said seatand said back-rest at a first point spaced from said back-rest pivot,means connecting said control link to the other of said seat and saidback-rest at a second point spaced from said backrest pivot, theconnecting means including a pin and slot interconnection between saidcontrol link and said other of said seat and said back-rest andproviding for a lost motion travel between said control link and saidother of said seat and said back-rest when released, the portion of saidseat between said back-rest pivot and the point on said seat providing afirst link rigid with said seat, the portion of said back-rest betweensaid back-rest pivot and the point on said back-rest providing a secondlink rigid with said back-rest, said three links and the connectingmeans coacting to hold temporarily said seat and said back-rest in rigidrelation, and means operable at the end of the movement of said seat andsaid backrest in said temporary rigid relation for releasing said pinand slot interconnection and for moving said three links and saidconnecting means relative to each other to recline said back-restrelative to said seat to a fully reclining position.

15. A reclining chair comprising a support, a seat, a back-rest, andmeans mounting said seat and back-rest on the support for movement to aplurality of positions in a predetermined sequence, the mounting meansincluding seat guiding means operatively connected to said seat and saidsupport and back-rest controlling and guiding means independent of saidseat guiding means and operatively connecting said back-rest to saidseat and said support, said back-rest controlling and guiding meansincluding means pivotally connecting said seat to said back-rest at aback-rest pivot, a control link pivotally connected to one of said seatand said back-rest at a first point spaced from said back-rest pivot,means connecting said control link to the other of said seat and saidback rest at a second point spaced from said back-rest pivot, theconnecting means including a further link pivotally connected betweensaid control link and said other of said seat and said back-rest, saidfurther link and said control link being substantially in alignment witheach other, the portion of said seat between said back-rest pivot andthe point on said seat providing a first link rigid with said seat, theportion of said back-rest between said back-rest pivot and the point onsaid back-rest providing a second link rigid with said back-rest, saidthree links and the connecting means coacting to hold temporarily saidseat and said back-rest in rigid relation, and means operable at the endof the movement of said seat and said back-rest in said temporary rigidrelation for urging said further link and said control link out ofalignment with each other and for moving said links relative to eachother to recline said back-rest relative to said seat to a fullyreclining position.

16. A reclining chair comprising a support, body-supporting meansincluding a seat and back-rest, means mounting said body-supportingmeans on said support for movement from a sitting position through afirst movement phase into an intermediate tilted sitting position andfrom said intermediate tilted sitting position through a second movementphase to a fully reclined position, the mounting means including aback-rest pivot pivotally mounting said back-rest on said seat, seatguid ing means operatively connected between said seat and said support,and back-rest controlling and guiding means independent of said seatguiding means and operatively connecting said back-rest to said seat andsaid support and operable to hold said back-rest substantially in afixed angular relationship with said seat during said first movementphase and to recline said back-rest relative to said seat and saidsupport during said second movement phase, said back-rest controllingand guiding means including first and second control links pivotallyinterconnected and having a first control pivot to said back-rest at apoint spaced from said back-rest pivot and a second control pivot tosaid seat at a point spaced from said backrest pivot, said back-rest,said seat and said first and 11 second control links remainingstationary relative to each other during said first movement phase tomaintain said fixed angular relationship, and means operatively engagedbetween said support and one of said control links and operable duringsaid second movement phase 5 to cause relative movement between saidfirst and second control links to recline said back-rest relative tosaid seat and said support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilmotet al. Sept. 12, 1905 Wilmot Oct. 15, 1907 Luckhardt Oct. 28, 1952Ducrot May 22, 1956 Knabusch et a1 Feb. 19, 1957

